A top provincial government official in Western Badghis province was killed on Sunday after a roadside bomb hit his vehicle on the way to Qala-e-Naw, officials said.

Confirming the death of Moqur district chief Mohammad Dawood, Deputy Governor of Badghis said seven others; including five police officers and two civilians were wounded in the incident.

The incident took place as seven members of a bomb disposal team, who were kidnapped in western Farah province, were found beheaded.

The deminers were abducted on Wednesday in a district in western Farah province.

On Sunday Nato also announced the death of three service members in Taliban attacks in south eastern parts of the country and in a separate incident in southern Kandahar province three Afghan police officers were killed.

Sunday has been described the deadliest since the beginning of this month.

The incidents follow the death of two Nato service members in a single shot by an Afghan intelligence officer in northern Panjshir province on Saturday.

The casualties took place as US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, the new Pentagon Chief succeeding Robert Gates, is discussing security transition to officials in Kabul on a surprise visit to Afghanistan.